Chapter Eight.
Vortex
It was nearly one p.m. when we returned to the clubhouse, and I was annoyed.
The Feds were meant to have taken Amy’s statement an hour ago, but they had not arrived yet.
That really pissed me off, especially considering the news of Nathan Coleman’s death.
The media was speculating on it being suicide, which I had to admit made sense. The poor guy had lost everything.
Meadow had served lunch, various wraps with soup, and Amy and I helped ourselves. I wasn’t surprised when Drew wandered in, as he’d an open invitation to eat here.
“How’s it going?” he asked Amy as he sat down.
“Thanks, I’m coping,” she replied. “Not exactly a sheriff’s uniform.”
Drew laughed. “No, the town’s not open yet. I have the uniform and will wear it when the town opens. For now, jeans and a shirt are acceptable. I’m not wrestling drunks yet.”
“Do you expect to do that often?” Amy asked, concerned.
“Yup. We’re going to get the assholes who go camping and trout fishing and get drunk. I’m still trying to find a deputy,” Drew replied.
“No luck?” I inquired. It had taken us ages to fill the sheriff’s position. Wasn’t surprised that Drew was struggling with the deputy role.
“None. Although Inglorious said I can deputise any of you, if need be.” Drew smirked, and I flinched.
“Rule me out. I’ve enough on my plate,” I shot back quickly.
As we chatted and ate our meal, two things happened simultaneously. The clubhouse door banged open, and a tall man walked in and dropped a duffel on the floor. He looked around and moved aside as a woman barged past him. Holy crap.
Her eyes narrowed, and I didn’t know which problem was the priority. Cowardly, I tackled the first.
“Didn’t believe you’d ever set foot on Unwanted Bastard territory again,” I stated, getting up. His head swivelled, and his gaze focused on me.
“Didn’t think you would either, Vortex. See you’re wearing the VP patch. Easily bought, were you?”
“Got something to say, Tracker?” I demanded as Amy let out a small squeak.
Tracker’s gaze shifted behind me, and I got in his way. “Eyes on me.”
Tracker moved closer, and I prepared to defend myself. “Seems we’re both suckers for Nanci’s bullshit. Good to see you, brother,” Tracker said and stepped into my space and yanked me into a one-armed hug.
He clapped me on the back, and I replied in kind. The woman coughed, and I ignored her. I’d no desire to deal with her crap right now.
“Nanci tracked you down?” I asked.
“Bugged the shit out of me for six months. Guess I’m home,” Tracker retorted.
“Excuse me!” a snippy voice interrupted. I scowled. Fuck me.
“Found that trying to drive through the barriers,” Tracker quipped, amused.
“Should have left the bitch there.”
“I can hear you!” Kyleah exploded.
“Then why don’t you fuck off!” I demanded.
Amy gasped, and I turned to her. “Sorry, brave girl, but that is the ex-girlfriend from hell.”
“Oh,” Amy said softly. Tracker leaned around me and winked.
“Why don’t I keep you company while Vortex deals with whatever that is?” Tracker asked smoothly. “Club girls have certainly taken a turn for the better.”
“Tracker, Amy’s no club girl. Show respect,” I ordered.
Interest flared in Tracker’s eyes. “Not a slut? And no cut.”
“Jesus, you’re starting already, you man whore?” Razor exclaimed, and Tracker turned. A smile broke out when he saw Razor.
“You look well, brother,” he said and repeated the one-armed hug.
“You too, Tracker. Guessing you’re home?”
“Yeah. Nanci wore me down. Bow is avoiding her, but won’t be for long.”
I snorted, amused. Bow was Tracker’s brother. I bet the fucker was still ducking Nanci. She’d hunt him down soon enough.
“Stop ignoring me!” Kyleah shouted.
Amy’s eyes went wide, and I glanced at Drew. He nodded and moved closer to Amy as I also covered her again.
Tracker appeared confused as Razor also positioned himself in front of Amy, but even without knowing why, he did the same.
“What do you want, Kyleah?”
Kyleah’s entire demeanour changed when I stared at her. “Came to see you, Vortex.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean by why? Guessed you’d be missing me by now.” Kyleah licked her lips and posed.
“Nope. And you weren’t invited here.” Anger flashed momentarily on Kyleah’s face.
“Don’t be an asshole; we had good times.” Kyleah sexily walked across the floor, hips wriggling, but it left me cold. She stopped and smiled mischievously.
“You have to miss what we had,” she murmured and trailed a finger down my chest.
Annoyed, I knocked it away. “What’s your problem? You know I don’t go past three months. Why are you here?”
“Honey, I don’t believe that rule meant me. You and I connected, and you know it, Vortex. Why deny our connection?”
“For fuck’s sake, Kyleah, there was nothing between us but fucking. Why are you making such a big deal? Are you that desperate?”
“Excuse me,” Amy murmured and got to her feet. Triumph flashed over Kyleah’s face before being quickly wiped off.
“Don’t lie to yourself, Vortex. We’re special. I’ll leave, but I’ll be back. Now you’ve seen me, you’ll start remembering how good we were,” Kyleah said and walked away. She wriggled her ass, but I turned to find Amy disappearing. Fuck Kyleah, I wasn’t interested.
“Amy, wait!” I called and chased after her. She’d reached the stairs, and I caught her. “That was a shitshow you didn’t need to witness.”
“Hey, it’s fine. Kyleah, was it? She clearly doesn’t think things are over between you. I’m a distraction.”
“The hell are you are. Listen, brave girl. Ever since I found you wandering amongst the wreckage of the zeppelin, I’ve been falling for you. Not saying I’m in love with you, but I want more,” I said.
Amy’s eyes widened. “Vortex, I don’t do relationships with a time limit.”
“That’s all I did until you. Amy, that night was a disaster, but even with everything, you held it together, cared more for others, and were so fuckin’ brave.
You broke me. The courage you displayed would have shamed Hercules himself.
Without even meaning to, you made me want more than the casual dating I’d done. ”
“I did?” Amy asked in disbelief.
“Yeah. Trust me, you did.”
“I do trust you,” Amy replied, and something swelled in my chest. Damn, this girl slayed me.
“Come sit back down and finish lunch, then we’ll do whatever you want.”
“Gotta call my dads,” Amy said with a wince.
“Would it be better face-to-face?”
“Vortex, you’ve met them, what do you think?” Amy laughed.
I winced. Amy had a point. I could only imagine Duke and Phil’s reaction to last night. I turned back and swore I spotted Kyleah darting out the doors, but nobody was looking that way. They were all watching me. Damn, peanut gallery.
“What’s going on?” Tracker demanded.
“Grab your bag, brother, we’ll find you a bunk, and I’ll update you,” Razor ordered. Tracker looked between us all before nodding and following Razor.
“Are you okay?” Drew asked.
“Fine. Well, I was,” she muttered, her eyes moving past my shoulder. Fuck having swinging doors, we needed revolving ones. I turned around and saw Sully and Monroe entering.
“Never rains but pours,” Drew quipped, and Amy snickered.
“Heard you had an incident last night, Miss Wright,” Monroe said.
“Yes. Someone tried to break into my apartment,” Amy replied.
Sully sniffed the air and looked over to the food service counter.
“Damn, you guys look after yourselves,” he murmured.
“Have you eaten, officer?” Meadow called.
“It’s Special Agent,” Monroe retorted.
“You can stay hungry if you talk to me like that again,” Meadow retorted.
Monroe snapped his mouth shut. “Yes, Ma’am.”
“Better. Manners cost nothing. Grab a plate, there’s plenty left over,” Meadow offered. She eyed Sully. “You too.”
“Thank you,” Sully said. They filled plates and came and sat with us.
“We apologise for our meeting being late. Unfortunately, we were dealing with Mr Coleman’s tragic death,” Monroe stated.
Shit. Amy hadn’t been told about him yet.
“Mr Coleman?” Amy asked, looking confused.
“Yeah. The guy whose pregnant wife died,” Sully said, and I booted him hard as Amy paled.
Sully glared at me and glanced at Amy as I switched my eyes to her. The fuckin’ idiot realised what he’d done and winced. “Sorry, Miss Wright. It’s been all over the news. I thought you’d have heard.”
“No, I’ve not watched TV today or checked my cell. How did he die? Was it from the accident?” Amy whispered.
“We can’t discuss Mr Coleman’s death, but it wasn’t from the crash,” Monroe reassured Amy.
Fuck, I read between the lines, as did Drew. He yanked his phone out and sent a text. Two cents, he was messaging Inglorious to tap Willow.
“Oh no, that poor man’s family,” Amy murmured. I reached out and grasped her hand, and she gripped tightly back.
“What happened last night?” Monroe questioned.
Amy began describing the events of the previous evening. When she mentioned the wreath, Sully sat up, and I took note. That meant something to them.
“You didn’t see anyone?” he asked.
“No. I hid in the bedroom like a wimp,” Amy replied.
“Not at all. You did the wisest thing. The locals have the wreath?” Sully inquired.
“Yes. They said it was evidence. Someone’s clearly made a mistake. They obviously thought that it was me and not Natasha,” Amy’s voice hitched, “who died.”
“Yeah, probably a case of mistaken identity,” Monroe agreed.
No, it damn well wasn’t. The Feds were hiding something, and by the expression on Drew’s face, he believed the same.
“Will you be staying here or going home?” Sully inquired.
“Home,” Amy said.
“Does Amy need to stay here?” I demanded.
“No, we don’t think so. Although it’s worrying someone tried breaking in, it could be because they thought Miss Wright—”
“Amy,” she interrupted.
“—Amy had died. However, it wouldn’t hurt to get cameras in place,” Monroe finished smoothly.